Play shoe or the like



Feb. 10, 1948. c. F. BEHRINGER ETAL 2,435,658

PLAY SHOE OR THE LIKE Filed NOV. 13, 1945 INVENTORS 37 440m ROGERS Patented Feb. 10, 1948 PLAY SHOE OR THE LIKE Charles F. Behringer, Los Angeles, and Lloyd Rogers, Wilmington, Calif.

Application November 13, 1945, Serial No. 628,176

This invention relates to footwear and deals more particularly with a shoe f the play or sport type.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shoe involving a novel structure in which the structural features and arrangement also lend novelty to the appearance of the shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe of the play or sport type in which the heel and sole are secured to the upper elements of the shoe in a novel and effective manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe having a sectional sole comprising a plurality of rigid related elements and embodying novel means for securing the sole in place and yet afiording suitable articulation of said sole.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe structure in which a single continuous cord or thong is used to connect the heel and sole of the shoe to the upper thereof and embodying novel structural means facilitating the proper application of tension to said cord or thong.

More specifically, the invention seeks to pro-- 'vide a shoe having an articulated sole comprising a plurality of rigid related blocks and a heel of novel form and design, and incorporating means for lacing the sole and heel to the shoe upper so as to provide a strong and durable struc-., ture affording suitable articulation of the sole despite firm take-up tension on the lacing means.

.The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient to use, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serv iceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, this disclosure merely deals with one embodiment-of the present invention which is given by way of example only.

' In the drawing: a

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of a shoe embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are top views of the rear, middle and front sole elements, respectively, of the shoe shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In that form of the invention which is illus trated, the shoe may be said to comprise, generally, an upper formed as a counter I 0 and a separate vamp ll; an insole l2 connecting the counter and the vamp; a heel IS, a sole i4; and:

' 7 Claims. (Cl. 36-115) 2 lacing means l5 for connecting the elements of the shoe.

. The counter lll is shown as comprising a simple piece of leather, fabric or like pliable material formed to accommodate the heel of a wearer and having. its lower portion anteriorly bent to pro--. vide marginal flanges [6. The counter may be artistically contoured as indicated and may carry means such as a strap l1 whereby the shoe may be secured to the foot of a wearer.

The vamp II also may comprise a suitable simple piece of pliable material formed to engage the forward part of the foot of a wearer in a conventional manner and having its lower portion outwardly bent to provide flanges [8 similar to the mentioned flanges 16. The vamp shown is. open at the irontat l9 and the contour lines of said vamp may be variously artistically formed.

The insole "is of conventional form, gen: erally, and is preferably provided with a stiffening piece 20 at the shank of the shoe. The insole l2 and the piece 20 are Preferably made of suitable leather, although the latter may be made of more rigid material such as moulded fibre or metal.

The heel [3, as shown, comprises a wood or plastic element in which the platform 2| is generally larger than the shank 22 ofthe heel; accordingly the heel is formed to have .a T-shaped cross-section in any cutting plane to provide the platform H with a peripheral flange 23 from which the shank 22 extends with a downward and outward flare. p

The sole M, in this instance, comprises three related blocks 24, 25, 26, which are the rear, middle and front elements of the sole, respectively. These blocks, also, may be made of wood or suitable plastic material.

The shoe structure contemplated entails the use of the lacing means IE to fasten the heel 13,.

through the insole l2, to the counter l0, and to fasten the sole blocks 24, 25 and 26 through said insole to the vamp l I. The lacing, which is shown as comprising a leather thong 21, has a substantially circumambient arrangement around the shoe, starting at one rear corner of the heel of the shoe, progressing along the side, across the front or toe of the shoe, along the other side, and terminating at the other rear corner of the heel. The thong 21 connects the heel l3 and counter H by portions thereof passing through holes 28 provided in the heel flange 23 and in corresponding aligned portions of the insole l2 and the flange iii of the counter l0.

Thethong .21 connects the sole blocks 24, 25

the heel portion of the shoe is secured. Thethong is then passed down through a hole 34, so as not to interfere with the arch of the user of the shoe, and passed along the bottom ,of the instep at 35 to be brought up through the first" hole 29. One side of the blocks 24, 2s and 2e are then laced into place bypassing the thong through one channel 30 of the rear block 24, and

then upwardly through the other holes 29 and the other aligned channels 30, alternately, as shown. When the front of the 'sole is reached; thethong is passed down through the end'hole Z9; and trained along. the l fiderjfaoe of the insole, said thong residing" in a groove 36"foimedin the front block 26. The, other si'd'e,v of the: shoe is laced in the same; manner," but" from front to rear until the thong'is finally 'liiiotted similar to the knot 3i.

Laced in the above manner, the elements of. the shoe are firmly fastened" together but afford little room for articulation of. the'sole'; Acc'ordingly, to provide for increased flexibility oii'lthe sole, the channels 39, whichfcomprise simple longitudinal bores, in theflsol'ev blocks; are out back as at 31 at the portionsldf'said'bl ks'which' have adjacency.' .In this'mannerlleach"channel 3!] becomes shorter in length than theblock in which it. is formed so thatthe thong may pass upwardly throughethe cutsi3l" ratherthanj upwardlybeyond the edges. of' saidblocksfl Also, inlthis' mannenthe. holes .29 which re" 9' adjacent portions ,of the, tlfong;,may.be' spa e'dffur ther. apart so that the-'hends' in'the thong are least sharp, facilitating "the application of suit able tensionon the thongto, obtain firm lacing of the shoe elements. Further, by means ofthe present arrangement, .thefl thong fis, positioned so as notto be subjected .to thegfrictionfand attrition to which the, shoe' sole is", exposedfMore specifically, however, thecu'ts' rgrooves 3 1 afford complete flexibilit'y of thesolewithout u'n'- due tension on the thong, since the big 38 can merely spread at their bottom'sl without undulyforcing the walls of the holes 29 through which said bights pass 1 The foregoingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention which, it should be understood, is subjectto modifications within the concepts of this invention; Accordingly, the appended claims are'intend'edto cover such variations and modifications of the, invention as may fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

,Weclaimz. 1-. A shoe having a, counterar'id a, separate vamp, each having marginal flanges, a heel having a, platform largerflthan the shank thereof to provide a peripheral fiangeja sole comprising a plurality of blocks, arranged transversely of the shoe, an insole between the counter and the heel andbetweenthe vamp .andthejs'ole, and a thong in, interlacing engagement" with the marginal flanges of the counter and vamp, the peripheral flange of theheel and the lateral edge portions of the soleblocks. X H

2. A Slice navinga "odiliiff and Nseparate vamp, each having marginal flanges, a heel'having a platform larger than the shank thereof to provide a peripheral flange, a sole comprising a plurality of blocks arranged transversely of the sole, an insole between the counter and the heel and between the vamp and the sole, and a thong in interlacing engagement with the marginal flanges of the, counter and .vamp,.the peripheral flange of the heel and thedateral edge portions of the sole blocks, said thong being substantially circumambient with regard to the counter of the shoe, extending from one rear corner of the heel, along one side of the shoe, across the front thereof, along the other side of the shoe, and terminatihg atthe other rear corner. of the heel.

3. A shoe having a counter and a separate vamp, each having'marginal flanges, a heel having. a platform larger than the shank thereof to provide a peripheral flange, a sole comprising a plurality of blocks arranged transversely of the shoe and each formed with a longitudinal channel adjacent the edge thereof, and a thong in interlacing engagement with the marginal flanges of the counter and'vamp, the'periphral flange of the heel, and engaged'in' the mentioned channels in the sole blocks I 4. A shoe having a counter" and a separate vamp, each having marginal flanges, a heel-having a platform largerthan' the shank thereof to provide a peripheral flange, a 'sole' comprising a plurality of blocks arranged" transversely of the shoe and each formedwith-a longitudinal channel adjacent an insole'betw'eenthe counter and the heel and'between the vamp and' the sole; and a thong in interlacing engagement with themarginal flanges of the'counter' and vamp '-'and' the peripheral flange of the heel "and engaged 'i'nthe mentioned channels in the sole blocks, said thong being substantially circumambient with regard to the counter of the Shea-extending from one rear corner of the heel, along'one si'de' of-the shoe, across the'front thereof-, along'the other side of the shoe,'and' terminating atthe other rear'corner of the heel.

5; Ina shoe structure, a sole'comprising' aplu, rality of blocks arranged tran sverselyof theshoe; each block being formed with a channel adjacent each'lateral'edgethereof, and an opencut made in at' least one end of each'channel whereby each channel is shorter in length than the width of the block in whichit is formed, and alaceforsecuring the blocks to the shoe and extendingthrough said' channels andat an angle through said cuts.

6. In a shoe structure, an upper having-outwardly turned marginal flanges, an insole havin one side engaged with saidflanges, a shoe-- sole engaged with the other side ofsaid insole-said shoe sole comprising transversely extending adjacent blocks each having longitudinal marginal channels, and a thong arranged to alternately engage the flanges of the upper and a channel of one of the blocks, whereby said upperinsol'e and shoe sole are secured together.

7. In a shoe structure, an'upper having outwardly turned marginal flanges, an insole having one side engaged with said flanges, a shoesole enga ged'withthe other side of said insole,*said' shoe sole comprising transversely extending adjacent blocks each having longitudinal marginal channels, and a thong arranged to alternately engage the flanges of the upper and a channel of one of the blocks, whereby said upper insole and shoe sole are secured together, the-mentioned channels in the blocks being shorter'than the width of the blocks in which said channels are formed Number cmmms F. BEHRINGER. LLOYD ROGERS.

REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the 297,864 file of this patent: 308,745

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Troutt June 5, 1917 Larsen -2 1--- Apr. 6, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany May 30, 1917 Germany Nov. 6, 1917 

